Chelsea are to visit Moscow for two pre-season matches, including a game against Lokomotiv, a little over two months after they lost to Manchester United in the final of the Champions League in the Russian capital.

The match, which will be held on August 1, is part of the annual Russian Railways Cup. Italy's AC Milan and the Spanish side Sevilla will also take part, facing each other in the other semifinal on the same day. Russian Railways are Lokomotiv's main sponsors.

The two semifinals will take place at Lokomotiv's Cherkizovo stadium in the northeast of Moscow. The final and the match for 3rd and 4th place are both on August 3.

Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon earlier told the sports.ru website that the match would give the club a chance to become closer to their Russian fans. He also said that Chelsea would bring all their leading players to Moscow for the games. This is the first year that Chelsea have entered the competition.

The London side are owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who bought the club in 2003.

Chelsea lost on penalties to Manchester United in the Champions League final, played at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium on May 21, after the game had ended 1-1. Their manager, Israeli Avram Grant, was sacked after the defeat.